Operator

Overview and Key Concepts

Operators can be called by objects to be utilized during setup, processing or repair
time. They will stay with the object that called them until they are released. Once
released, they can go work with a different object if they are called. They can also be used
to carry flow items between objects. Operators can be placed on a network if they need to
follow certain paths as they travel.

The operator is a task executer. It implements offset travel depending on whether there's
in an involved item for the offset. If there is no item, then it implements the offset
exactly like the TaskExecuter object. It travels so that its x/y center and z base arrives
at the destination location. If there is an involved item, then the operator only travels
along the x/y plane. It also only travels up to the point where its front edge is at the
edge of the flow item, instead of its x/y center. This done by decreasing the total travel
distance by (xsize(operator) / 2 + xsize(item) / 2).

The operator has animations in order to Walk, Walk Loaded, and Stand and more depending on
the operator's shape. These animations can be viewed in the Animation Creator by right
clicking an operator to open a menu. Point to Edit, then Animations.

Context

As mentioned above, the xsize of the item is queried to decrease the total offset
distance. This may not work perfectly if you have flow items whose x size is very different
from their y size, and the operator approaches from the y side of the flow item. If this is
the case, and you want it to look more exact, you could try switching x and y sizes of the
item and rotate it 90 degrees right before the operator picks it up, then undo those changes
from the operator's load/unload trigger.

Shape

The operator's shape can be customized using the Person Visuals panel of Quick Properties that
is displayed when the operator is selected in the 3D view.

Statistics

Properties

The operator object has six tabs with various properties. The last five tabs are the
standard tabs that are common to all task executers (except the dispatcher). For more
information about the properties on those tabs, see:

Only the Operator tab is unique to the operator object. However, most of the properties
on this tab are the same as the properties on
The Task Executer
Tab. Only the first property is unique to the Operator tab.

Do Operator Animations

When this box is checked, the operator object will use the default animations for this
object. If you want to use your own custom animations, you should clear this box.